Yoenis Céspedesarrived in camp and made the biggest noise of the day, blasting a homer over the batter's eye in center on Field One at Papago Park.

Manager Bob Melvin, who threw the pitch, had thought he might hold Céspedes homerless Sunday. As he watched the ball sail way over the high fence, Melvin lamented, "Por qué, man?"

Céspedes modestly said the wind helped him, but Melvin pointed out that the wind was definitely blowing in.

The outfielder was in a great mood for the A's first workout, a change from the end of the season when he was concerned about a pending financial legal hearing in the Dominican Republic and his family's safety there. The lawsuit will be settled March 15, Céspedes said Sunday, and his family is out of the Dominican Republic, waiting for U.S. visas on Caicos Islands.

"It weighed on my mind sometimes, yes," Céspedes said through interpreter Ariel Prieto. "I tried to be focused every day and not let it be a problem and keep me from playing baseball. ... That was a distraction for me, but I tried to put it aside."

Céspedes said he put on 5 pounds this winter because he lost about 8 during last season, so he wants to start ahead a little bit. The severe bone bruise on his right foot took about two weeks to heal, he said.

He isn't thrilled by the prospect of being a designated hitter a little more this year, saying he'd prefer to play in the field every day. Melvin said he likes players to think that way. Still, considering how hard Céspedes plays, Melvin would like to get him some rest occasionally without losing his bat from the lineup. That means: DH.

Céspedes joked that he plans to wait until 2015 to give his first interview in English; he wants to make sure Prieto stays employed.

Talking to the troops: Melvin's address to his assembled team Sunday morning: "We had a lot of success last year, we should be proud of that, but it's a new season and unless you're moving forward, you're moving back." Melvin said he wants the team to take the good things it did in 2012 and build on them.

Melvin showed a four-minute highlight video of 2012. Asked if there was pie, Melvin said, "We had 15 walk-offs. There was pie."

He invited new minor-league helper Bob Welchto the meeting, figuring that seeing a Cy Young winner who had 27 victories one season would be good for his team. "He's a great resource," Melvin said. "He's a people person and he loves putting on the green and gold."

Briefly: Scott Sizemore, who incurred a season-ending knee injury the first workout day last season, was not on the field Sunday. He was with wife Brooke and daughter Layla, born Friday. ... Travis Blackleysoon will get a World Series ring: The Giants asked for his ring size, because he was with them before getting waived and claimed by the A's in May. He pitched five innings for the Giants. ... Melvin said he sees no issues with shortstop Hiro Nakajima's arm after watching drills Sunday.